The Glass Castle exploded onto the scene of the book world - Jeannette Walls' hugely popular memoir of her unconventional childhood. Many cite Walls as the first in a growing trend of memoirs from "average" people (ie: not celebrities). A huge part of Walls' memoir (and its appeal) were her parents, especially her mother, Rosemary.… Continue reading Book Review: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
When a friend loaned me a copy of The Dirty Life I wasn't that excited. I don't read a lot of memoirs and it's rare that they appeal to me. My friend also happens to be a little more of a hippy than I am and I wasn't sure I was interested in reading a… Continue reading Book Review: The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball
My initial reaction and concern upon reading the tagline of this book - "The true story of an 11-year-old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny" - was that it would turn out to be a sort of "white saviour" story. Wealthy white women meets young black boy and his life… Continue reading Book Review: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski
I'm not sure that I would have finished The Trees, except that it was loaned to me by an acquaintance and I didn't want to seem like someone who doesn't finish books. (They offered to loan it to me after I commented on how beautiful the cover is. Seriously, that's a lovely cover, isn't it?)… Continue reading Book Review: The Trees by Ali Shaw
Joseph Boyden is easily one of the best Canadian writers currently being published and I'm a big fan. His latest offering is much shorter than his three previous works - I read Wenjack in two sittings over a couple of days - but brings forth all his familiar talent. What sets this brief story apart… Continue reading Book Review: Wenjack by Joseph Boyden
I make no secret of the fact that Ann Patchett is one of my favourite authors. So when I found out she had a new book coming out this fall, I immediately pre-ordered it. I'm happy to report that Commonwealth doesn't disappoint. Patchett's latest novel begins in the 1960s at a christening party. Franny Keating is… Continue reading Book Review: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
Missing, Presumed - Susie Steiner (Harper Collins, 2016) Rumours of Another World - Philip Yancey (Zondervan, 2004) Commonwealth - Ann Patchett (Harper, 2016) Flight Behavior - Barbara Kingsolver (Harper Perennial, 2012) Currently Reading: Prayer - Timothy Keller The Trees - Ali Shaw
If you've been reading reviews here for a while, you may have noticed I don't read many mysteries. The truth is, I'm kind of a chicken. I have an overactive imagination and when I read horror or violence I have a hard time keeping my brain from focusing on those mental images. (And it doesn't… Continue reading Book Review: Missing, Presumed by Susie Steiner
The Nightingale offers a interesting conundrum to a book reader. It's an engaging, easy-to-read story and so it's not hard to understand why so many readers seem to have fallen in love with it recently. On the other hand, it's also not very well-written. After hearing some rave reviews of Kristin Hannah's latest novel (I'd… Continue reading Book Review: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Fans of Maria Semple's previous novel, Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, will not be disappointed by her new offering. Today Will Be Different has all the wackiness, sentimentality, family love, and Seattle adoration that Bernadette brought without feeling like Semple treads ground already covered. (Though readers may find some of it familiar.) Eleanor is our eccentric… Continue reading Book Review: Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple
Karissa Reads Books 